Semi-conductor device with epitaxial source/drain facetting provided at the gate edge

ABSTRACT

A semiconductor structure includes an active layer located on a substrate and a first and a second gate structure located on the active layer. A first raised epitaxial region is located on the active layer between the first and the second gate. The first raised epitaxial region has a first facet shaped edge and a first vertical shape edge, such that the first facet shaped edge is located adjacent the first gate structure. A second raised epitaxial region is also located on the active layer between the first and the second gate structure. The second raised epitaxial region has a second facet shaped edge and a second vertical shape edge, such that the second facet shaped edge is located adjacent the second gate structure. A trench region is located between the first and the second vertical shaped edge for electrically isolating the first and the second raised epitaxial region.

CROSS REFERENCE

The present application is a divisional of and claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §121 of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/534,407, filed on Jun. 27, 2012, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

a. Field of the Invention

The present invention generally relates to semiconductor devices, and more particularly to structures, fabrication methods, and design structures having selective facetted epitaxial growth.

b. Background of Invention

In semiconductor structures, the epitaxial growth of regions such the source/drain (S/D) regions within Field Effect Transistors (FETs) may encounter faceting. In some instances, the created facets associated with these S/D epitaxially grown regions are desired, while in other instances, such facets may lead to undesirable effects.

Referring to FIG. 1A, within area A of semiconductor structure 100, the effect of epitaxially growing a raised S/D region 102 at the edge of an isolation region 104 (e.g., an STI region), as known in the art, is illustrated. This effect is shown in more detail in FIG. 1B, which depicts an expanded view of area A. Referring to FIG. 1B, the epitaxially grown raised S/D region 102 includes facets 106 a-106 c, which are formed at the edge of isolation region 104. Such faceting at the isolation region 104 edge is a known phenomenon associated epitaxial processes and is formed due to the crystalline growth (epitaxy) nature associated with the directional growth properties encountered at different surface atom concentrations.

Thus, growing the raised source/drain region 102 at the edge of isolation region 104 may cause the formation of facets 106 a-106 c. Facets 106 a-106 c along the edge of isolation region 104 are undesirable because the formed facets have less epitaxial material, which may lead to the entire epitaxial material associated with the facets being consumed during silicide formation. This reduces the contact area of the raised source/drain region 102 and, therefore, increases contact resistance with the raised source/drain region 102.

FIG. 2 depicts a cross sectional view of a semiconductor structure 200 that illustrates the effect of epitaxially growing raised S/D regions 202, 204, 206 at the edge of shallow trench isolation (STI) regions 208 and 210, as known in the art. As illustrated, facet 212 of raised S/D region 202 is formed at the edge of STI region 208. Similarly, facets 214 and 216 of raised S/D regions 204 and 206, respectively, are formed at the edge of STI region 210. As described above, facets associated with epitaxial raised S/D regions that are grown at the edge of STI regions may exhibit significantly reduced contact surface areas.

As shown in FIG. 2, raised S/D region 202 has a reduced contact surface area Sf1 relative to the contact surface area provided by S/D region 220 Likewise, raised S/D regions 204 and 206 have significantly reduced contact surface areas Sf2 and Sf3 compared to the contact surface area provided by S/D region 220. In the illustrated structure 220, since the STI regions 208, 210 are formed on an extremely thin silicon-on-insulator (ETSOI) layer 222 located on a buried oxide (BOX) layer 224, the shallow STI regions 208, 210 facilitate the formation of pronounced facets such as facets 212-216.

It may, therefore, be advantageous, among other things, to control the formation of facets during the growth of epitaxial regions within semiconductor structures.

BRIEF SUMMARY

According to at least one exemplary embodiment, a method of forming a semiconductor structure includes providing an active layer and forming adjacent gate structures on the active layer. The gate structures each have sidewalls such that first spacers are formed on the sidewalls. A raised region is epitaxially grown on the active layer between the adjacent gate structures and at least one trench that extends through the raised region and through the active region is formed, whereby the at least one trench separates the raised region into a first raised region corresponding to a first transistor and a second raised region corresponding to a second transistor. The first raised region and second raised region are electrically isolated by the at least one trench.

According to another exemplary embodiment, a method of forming a semiconductor structure includes providing an active layer and forming gate structures on the active layer, whereby the gate structures each have sidewalls. First spacers are formed on the sidewalls of the gate structures. At least one raised source/drain epitaxial region is formed over the active layer in the exposed regions not covered by the gate structures and the first spacers, such that the source/drain epitaxial region includes controllably formed facets at locations adjacent the gate structures. At least one trench that extends into both the raised source/drain epitaxial region and a predetermined location of the active region underlying the source/drain epitaxial region is formed. The trench separates the raised source/drain epitaxial region into a first raised source/drain epitaxial region corresponding to a first transistor and a second raised source/drain epitaxial region corresponding to a second transistor, whereby the first raised source/drain epitaxial region and second raised source/drain epitaxial region are electrically isolated by the formed trench.

According to another exemplary embodiment, a semiconductor structure includes an active layer located on a substrate and a first and a second gate structure located on the active layer. A first raised epitaxial region is located on the active layer between the first and the second gate structure. The first raised epitaxial region has a first facet shaped edge and a first vertical shape edge, such that the first facet shaped edge is located adjacent the first gate structure. A second raised epitaxial region is also located on the active layer between the first and the second gate structure. The second raised epitaxial region has a second facet shaped edge and a second vertical shape edge, such that the second facet shaped edge is located adjacent the second gate structure. A trench region is located between the first and the second vertical shaped edge for electrically isolating the first and the second raised epitaxial region.

According to yet another exemplary embodiment, a design structure tangibly embodied in a machine readable medium for designing, manufacturing, or testing an integrated circuit is provided. The design structure includes an active layer located on a substrate and a first and a second gate structure located on the active layer. A first raised epitaxial region is located on the active layer between the first and the second gate structure. The first raised epitaxial region has a first facet shaped edge and a first vertical shape edge, such that the first facet shaped edge is located adjacent the first gate structure. A second raised epitaxial region is also located on the active layer between the first and the second gate structure. The second raised epitaxial region has a second facet shaped edge and a second vertical shape edge, such that the second facet shaped edge is located adjacent the second gate structure. A trench region is located between the first and the second vertical shaped edge for electrically isolating the first and the second raised epitaxial region.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A-1B are plan views of a semiconductor structure depicting facet formation due to epitaxially growing a raised S/D region at the edge of a shallow trench isolation (STI) region, as known in the art;

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of a semiconductor structure illustrating facet formation based on the epitaxial growth of raised S/D regions at the edge of shallow trench isolation (STI) regions, as known in the art;

FIGS. 3A-3E are cross sectional views of a semiconductor structure according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIGS. 4A-4B are cross sectional views depicting a contact for connecting multiple semiconductor structures according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram of a design process used in semiconductor design, manufacture, and/or test.

The drawings are not necessarily to scale. The drawings are merely schematic representations, not intended to portray specific parameters of the invention. The drawings are intended to depict only typical embodiments of the invention. In the drawings, like numbering represents like elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following described and illustrated semiconductor structures and methods provide the desired faceting of epitaxially grown regions at gate structure edges, while eradicating undesirably formed facets that may occur at the edges of isolation regions.

FIGS. 3A-3E are cross sectional views of a semiconductor structure formed according to an embodiment of the invention. Referring to FIG. 3A, semiconductor structure 300 includes a substrate layer 302, a buried oxide layer 304 formed on top of the substrate 302, and an extremely thin silicon-on-insulator (ETSOI) layer 306 formed on top of the buried oxide (BOX) layer 304. The thickness of the substrate may be approximately 875 μm, while the BOX 304 may have a thickness of about 145 nm. The ETSOI layer 306 may have a thickness of less than 10 nm, preferably about 6 nm.

Gate structures 308 a-308 c may be created using conventional gate patterning and formation processes, whereby each gate structure may include a gate electrode and a gate dielectric layer formed over the ETSOI layer 306. For example, gate structure 308 a may include gate electrode 310 a and gate dielectric layer 312 a. Gate structure 308 b may include gate electrode 310 b and gate dielectric layer 312 b, while gate structure 308 c may include gate electrode 310 c and gate dielectric layer 312 c.

Gate dielectric layers 312 a-312 c may include a high-k dielectric material having a dielectric constant greater than, for example, 3.9, which is the dielectric constant of silicon oxide. The high-k dielectric material may include a dielectric metal oxide. In some implementations, a high-k material that has a dielectric constant in the range of about 4.0-8.0 may be utilized. Exemplary high-k dielectric materials may include HfO₂, ZrO₂, La₂O₃, Al₂O₃, TiO₂, SrTiO₃, LaAlO₃, Y₂O₃, HfO_(x)N_(y), ZrO_(x)N_(y), La₂O_(x)N_(y), Al₂O_(x)N_(y), TiO_(x)N_(y), SrTiO_(x)N_(y), LaAlO_(x)N_(y), or Y₂O_(x)N_(y). In other implementations, a silicon nitride (Si₃N₄) dielectric having a dielectric constant of about 7.5 may be used as a gate dielectric. Gate dielectric layers 312 a-312 c may also include a multi-layer of SiO₂, SiON, SiN, and a high-k dielectric material, including but not limited, to hafnium oxide (HfO₂), aluminum oxide (Al₂O₃), lantanum oxide (La₂O₃), zircunium oxide (ZrO₂), and their respective silicates. The thickness of the gate dielectric 304 may be in the range of 1.0 nm-5.0 nm. The gate electrodes 310 a-310 c may include metals such as TiN, TaN, W, WN, TaAlN, Al, Au, Ag, or a combination of such metals. Gate electrodes 310 a-310 c may also include a poly-silicon layer located on top of a metal material, whereby the top of the poly-silicon layer may be silicided. Gate electrodes 310 a-310 c may have a thickness approximately in the range of 20-100 nm and a length in the range of about 10-250 nm, although lesser and greater thicknesses and lengths may also be contemplated.

Once the gate structures 308 a-308 c are formed, first spacers 316-318 are formed on the sidewalls of gate structures 308 a-308 c, respectively. As illustrated, spacers 316 a and 316 b are formed on the sidewalls S1 of gate structure 308 a, spacers 317 a and 317 b are formed on the sidewalls S2 of gate structure 308 b, and spacers 318 a and 318 b are formed on the sidewalls S3 of gate structure 308 c. The gate spacers 316-318 are formed on the sidewalls S1-S3 of the gate structures 308 a-308 c by deposition of a dielectric layer. The dielectric layer may be formed, for example, by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) of a dielectric material. For example, the dielectric materials used to form gate spacers 316-318 may include silicon oxide, silicon nitride, or silicon oxynitride.

Following the formation of the gate structures 308 a-308 c and the first spacers 316-318, raised source/drain (S/D) regions 320, 322, 324, 326 can be epitaxially grown in a self-aligned manner in the exposed areas E1-E4 of the underlying ETSOI layer 306. Thus, the raised source/drain (S/D) regions 320, 322, 324, 326 are grown in the regions E1-E4 not covered by the formed gate structures 308 a-308 c and their respective first spacers 316-318.

For example, for a pFET finFET device, epitaxially grown raised S/D regions such as S/D regions 320, 322, 324, and 326 may include a silicon germanium (SiGe) type material, where the atomic concentration of germanium (Ge) may range from about 10-80%, preferably from about 20-60%. In a preferred exemplary embodiment, the concentration of germanium (Ge) may be 50%. SiGe provides a compressive strain. Dopants such as boron may be incorporated into the SiGe S/D regions by in-situ doping. The percentage of boron may range from 1E19 cm⁻³ to 2E21 cm⁻³, preferably from about 2E20 cm⁻³ to 7E20 cm⁻³.

For example, for a nFET finFET device, epitaxially grown S/D raised regions such as S/D regions 320, 322, 324, and 326 may include a carbon doped Silicon (Si:C) type material, where the atomic concentration of carbon (C) may range from about 0.4-4.0%, preferably from about 0.5-2.8%. In a preferred exemplary embodiment, the concentration of carbon (C) may be approximately 1.5-2.2%. Si:C provides a tensile strain. Dopants such as phosphorous or arsenic may be incorporated into the Si:C S/D regions by in-situ doping. The percentage of phosphorous or arsenic may range from 1E19 cm⁻³ to 2E21 cm⁻³, preferably from about 2E20 cm⁻³ to 7E20 cm⁻³. For both nFET and pFET devices, doping the epitaxially grown S/D raised regions 320, 322, 324, 326 may facilitate, among other things, the creation of better contacts.

As depicted in FIG. 3A, the epitaxial growth of the raised source/drain (S/D) regions 320-326 adjacent the gate structures 308 a-308 c and their respective spacers 316-318 create facets at the edges of the gate structures 308 a-308 c. For example, raised S/D region 322 includes facets 330 a and 330 b at the edge of gate structures 308 a and 308 b, respectively. Also, for example, raised S/D region 324 includes facets 332 a and 332 b at the edge of gate structures 308 b and 308 c, respectively. The occurrence of the gate edge facets 330, 332, 334, 336, which are created by the epitaxially grown raised source/drain (S/D) regions 320, 322, 324, 326, provide a reduction in parasitic capacitance and, therefore, electrical cross-talk between the gate structures 308 a-308 c and the raised source/drain (S/D) regions 320, 322, 324, 326. The facet inclinations or angles are created by controlling the crystal growth conditions (e.g., temperature, pressure, and precursor gases) of the epitaxial growth process of the raised source/drain (S/D) regions 320, 322, 324, 326. By controlling such growth conditions, controlled facets 330, 332, 334, and 336 may be formed by the 111-planes (e.g., approximately 54° facets) of the crystalline structure of the epitaxially grown raised source/drain (S/D) regions 320, 322, 324, 326. Facets formed by 113-planes (e.g., approximately 57° facets) and 115-planes (e.g., approximately 60° facets) may also be contemplated.

The extremely thin silicon-on-insulator (ETSOI) layer 306 formed on top of the buried oxide (BOX) layer 304 may form an active layer 340 of the semiconductor structure 300. The active layer 340 may include the silicon area corresponding to the extremely thin silicon-on-insulator (ETSOI) layer 306 that is used to fabricate active devices such as, for example, nFET and pFET device structures. As depicted, the active layer 340 is the area upon which the gate structures 308 a-308 c and their respective channels, and the raised source/drain (S/D) regions 320-326 are formed.

FIG. 3B is a cross sectional view of a resulting semiconductor structure 345 following the photolithographic patterning and etching of the active layer 340 (FIG. 3A) of semiconductor structure 300 (FIG. 3A). As illustrated, an active layer mask (RX mask) may be utilized to pattern and etch predefined regions of the extremely thin silicon-on-insulator (ETSOI) layer 306 (FIG. 3A). For example, according to this embodiment, the patterning and etching (e.g., RIE: Reactive Ion Etching) of the extremely thin silicon-on-insulator (ETSOI) layer 306 simultaneously not only defines the active regions 306 a, 306 b of the active layer 340 (FIG. 3A) of semiconductor structure 300 (FIG. 3A), but also forms trench regions 348 a-348 c that electrically isolate devices 350 and 352. Thus, based on the application of the RX mask, device 350 is formed on defined active region 306 a, while device 352 is formed on defined active region 306 b, whereby both devices 350, 352 are electrically isolated from each other via trench 348 a.

For example, by etching trench 348 a at a predetermined location L1 (FIG. 3A) of the active layer 340 (FIG. 3A) corresponding to raised source/drain (S/D) region 322 (FIG. 3A), the raised source/drain (S/D) region 322 (FIG. 3A) is divided into raised source/drain (S/D) regions 322 a and 322 b, which are thereby electrically isolated from each other. Similarly, by etching trench 348 c at another predetermined location L2 (FIG. 3A) of the active layer 340 (FIG. 3A) corresponding to raised source/drain (S/D) region 326 (FIG. 3A), the raised source/drain (S/D) region 326 (FIG. 3A) can be divided into raised source/drain (S/D) regions 326 a and a second S/D region (not shown), which are also electrically isolated from each other.

Accordingly, the active layer 340 (FIG. 3A) can be defined into active regions 306 a and 306 b of devices 350 and 352, respectively, by forming an isolation trench (i.e., trench: 348 a). By electrically isolating device structures according to this embodiment after epitaxial growth of the S/D regions 320, 322, 324, 326, rather than before, the formation of STI regions and corresponding facet problems associated with epitaxial growth processes at the edge of these STI regions may be avoided. Although for brevity only exemplary devices 350 and 352 are shown, other devices may also be fabricated which may require electrical isolation. For example, another gate 308 d (not shown) may be formed. Raised source/drain (S/D) region 326 (FIG. 3A) may be formed between gate 308 c and gate 308 d (not shown). As depicted in FIG. 3B, trench 348 c may divide the raised source/drain (S/D) region 326 (FIG. 3A) into raised source/drain (S/D) region 326 a and a second S/D region (not shown), and thereby separate device 352 from gate 308 d. Similarly, trench 348 b may isolate device 350 from an adjacent device (not shown) located to the left of device 350. The electrical isolation provided by the trenches (e.g., trench 348 a: FIG. 3B) stems from the etching process going down through both the raised source/drain (S/D) regions (e.g., S/D region 322: FIG. 3A) and the extremely thin silicon-on-insulator (ETSOI) layer 306 (FIG. 3A) to at least the surface 355 (FIG. 3A) of the BOX layer 304. Going down further into the BOX layer 304 beyond surface 355 may also be contemplated.

As depicted, based on the formation of trench 348 a, sidewalls 358 a and 358 b of epitaxial raised source/drain (S/D) regions 322 a and 322 b, respectively, may be substantially vertical. In addition, controlled facets 330 a and 330 b provide the desired reduction in parasitic capacitance with their respective gates 308 a, 308 b. Thus, isolation may be provided without the creation of facetted epitaxial raised source/drain (S/D) regions (e.g., see FIG. 2) at the edge of the trench 348 a, while maintaining the benefits of forming controlled facets 330 a, 330 b at the gate 308 a, 308 b edges. Similarly, based on the formation of trench 348 c, sidewall 362 of epitaxial raised source/drain (S/D) region 326 a may be substantially vertical. In addition, controlled facet 334 provides the desired reduction in parasitic capacitance with gate 308 c. Thus, isolation may be provided without the creation of facetted epitaxial raised source/drain (S/D) regions (e.g., see FIG. 2) at the edge of the trench 348 c, while maintaining the benefits of forming controlled facet 334 at the edge of gate 308 c. Also, based on the formation of trench 348 b, sidewall 366 of epitaxial raised source/drain (S/D) region 320 b may be substantially vertical. In addition, controlled facet 336 also provides the desired reduction in parasitic capacitance with gate 308 a. Thus, isolation may be provided without the creation of facetted epitaxial raised source/drain (S/D) regions (e.g., see FIG. 2) at the edge of the trench or isolation region 348 b, while maintaining the benefits of forming controlled facet 336 at the edge of gate 308 a.

As depicted in FIG. 3B, the vertical sidewalls of the epitaxial raised source/drain (S/D) regions at the edge of the trenches provide an increased contact surface area relative to epitaxial raised source/drain (S/D) regions formed at the edge of STI regions, as shown in FIG. 2. For example, the surface area Sf2 (FIG. 2) of raised source/drain (S/D) region 204 (FIG. 2) may be substantially smaller in comparison to the surface area Sf2′ of raised source/drain (S/D) region 322 b. Also, for example, the surface area Sf3 (FIG. 2) of raised source/drain (S/D) region 206 (FIG. 2) may be substantially smaller in comparison to the surface area Sf3′ of raised source/drain (S/D) region 322 a.

FIG. 3C is a plan view of the semiconductor structure 345 shown in FIG. 3B. As illustrated, the active layer 340 (FIG. 3A) RX mask defines active regions 306 a and 306 b of devices 350 and 352, respectively, while simultaneously facilitating the formation of requisite trenches 348 a-348 c for not only electrically isolating devices 350 and 352 from one another, but also other fabricated neighboring devices (not shown).

Referring to the semiconductor structure 375 of FIG. 3D, a set of second spacers are deposited with respect to the structure 345 of FIG. 3B. For example, second spacers 370 a and 370 b may be formed over respective first spacers 316 a-316 b, second spacers 371 a and 371 b may be formed over respective first spacers 317 a-317 b, and second spacers 372 a and 372 b may be formed over respective first spacers 318 a-318 b. Additionally, second spacers 370 a and 370 b may be formed over respective facets 336 and 330 a, while second spacers 371 a and 371 b may be formed over respective facets 330 b and 332 a. Also, second spacers 372 a and 372 b may be formed over respective facets 332 b and 334. As illustrated, second spacers are also created in the formed trenches. For example, second spacer 374 may be formed within trench 348 b on sidewall 366 of epitaxial raised source/drain (S/D) region 320 b. Second spacers 376 a and 376 b may be formed within trench 348 a on respective sidewalls 358 a and 358 b of epitaxial raised source/drain (S/D) regions 322 a and 322 b. Also, second spacer 378 may be formed within trench 348 c on sidewall 362 of epitaxial raised source/drain (S/D) region 326 a.

As with the first spacers 316-318, the second spacers are created by deposition of a dielectric layer, whereby the dielectric layer may be formed, for example, by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) of a dielectric material. For example, the dielectric materials used to form second spacers 370-372, 374, 376, and 378 may include silicon oxide, silicon nitride, or silicon oxynitride.

In accordance with the embodiment depicted in FIG. 3D, the controllably formed facets 336, 330 a, 330 b, 332 a, 332 b, 334 may be protected by the second spacers 370 a, 370 b, 371, 371, 372, 372 that are formed over them for the purpose of subsequent silicide formation processes associated with the epitaxial raised source/drain (S/D) regions 320 b, 322 a, 322 b, 324, 326 a (see FIG. 3E).

Referring to FIG. 3E, silicide and contact formation processes are carried out on structure 375 of FIG. 3D. As shown, FIG. 3E, structure 380 includes silicide areas 381 b, 382 a, 382 b, 383, and 384 a that are respectively formed over the top surfaces of epitaxial raised source/drain (S/D) regions 320 b, 322 a, 322 b, 324, and 326 a. Silicide may be formed by depositing a metal liner material such as nickel over structure 375 (FIG. 3D), followed by a thermal anneal process (e.g., approximate 450° C.). Based on this process, nickel silicide is formed on the semiconductor material surfaces of the epitaxial raised source/drain (S/D) regions 320 b, 322 a, 322 b, 324, 326 a. Consequently, silicide areas 381 b, 382 a, 382 b, 383, and 384 a may, for example, be formed from nickel silicide. In contrast, silicide is not formed over the oxide materials of second spacers 370-372. Thus, the remaining nickel metal liner material not forming the silicide may be subsequently removed from these areas prior to contact (CA) formation.

During silicide formation, a portion of the underlying silicon is consumed. For example, during the formation of silicide areas 381 b, 382 a, 382 b, 383, and 384 a, a portion of the top surfaces of respective epitaxial raised source/drain (S/D) regions 320 b, 322 a, 322 b, 324, and 326 a is consumed. However, as depicted, the second spacers 370-372 cover the surfaces of the facets 336, 330 a, 330 b, 332 a, 332 b, 334 corresponding to their respective raised source/drain (S/D) regions 320 b, 322 a, 322 b, 324, 326 a. For example, spacer 370 a covers the surface of facet 336 corresponding to raised source/drain (S/D) region 320 b, spacer 370 b covers the surface of facet 330 a corresponding to raised source/drain (S/D) region 322 a, spacer 371 a covers the surface of facet 330 b corresponding to raised source/drain (S/D) region 322 b, spacers 371 b and 372 a cover the surfaces of respective facet 332 a and 332 b corresponding to raised source/drain (S/D) region 324, and spacer 372 b covers the surface of facet 334 corresponding to raised source/drain (S/D) region 326 a. By covering the facets 336, 330 a, 330 b, 332 a, 332 b, 334 using the second spacers 370-372, the surfaces of the facets 336, 330 a, 330 b, 332 a, 332 b, 334 are not exposed to and, therefore, protected from the silicide formation process.

If during the silicide process, the facetted areas are exposed, as silicide is formed on the facet, the underlying epitaxially grown S/D material (e.g., SiGe) may be consumed. Consumption of the underlying epitaxially grown S/D material at the facet may effect dopant concentration near the channel and subsequently lead to device operation failure or poor device (e.g., nFET, pFET, etc.) performance. This may particularly apply to regions of the facet where the epitaxially grown S/D material becomes thinner (i.e., near the gate edge). For example, if silicide is formed on facet 336 of raised source/drain (S/D) region 320 b, the thinner epitaxial region 385 of the raised source/drain (S/D) region 320 b may be consumed, which may adversely effect dopant concentrations in region 385. This rationale applies to the formation of silicide on remaining facets 330 a, 330 b, 332 a, 332 b, and 334.

As further depicted in FIG. 3E, a contact (CA) dielectric material layer such as silicon oxide or silicon nitride may be deposited, patterned and etched. Dielectric regions 388 are the result of such deposition, photolithographic patterning, and etching processes. As shown, for the contact formation processes, the contact (CA) dielectric material layer (not shown) may be patterned in order to align the contact (CA) regions 390 with both the silicide covered portions of the raised source/drain (S/D) regions 320 b, 322 a, 322 b, 324, 326 a and the gate electrodes 310 a-310 c. Once formed, the contact regions 390 may be filed with an electrically conductive material such as tungsten in order to create contacts 392.

FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate a semiconductor structure 400 that includes a contact strap 402 that connects two individual transistor devices 404 a, 404 b. FIG. 4B depicts a cross sectional view (along A-A′) of the semiconductor structure 400. Contact strap 402 connects to both gate structure 406 a of device 404 a and gate structure 406 b of device 404 b. As with the previously described and illustrated embodiment depicted in FIGS. 3A-3E, the embodiment of FIGS. 4A-4B includes desired facets along their gate edges. For example, raised source/drain (S/D) region 408 a of device 404 a includes a desired facetted shape along gate edge region 412 a. Also, raised source/drain (S/D) region 410 a of device 404 a includes a desired facetted shape along gate edge region 414 a. Similarly, raised source/drain (S/D) region 408 b of device 404 b includes a desired facetted shape along gate edge region 412 b. Also, raised source/drain (S/D) region 410 b of device 404 b includes a desired facetted shape along gate edge region 414 b. Along the active layer (RX) border of device 404 a, as defined by 416, no facets corresponding to raised source/drain (S/D) regions 408 a and 410 a are desirably formed based on the above-described embodiments. Similarly, along the active layer (RX) border of device 404 b, as defined by 418, there also no facets corresponding to raised source/drain (S/D) regions 408 b and 410 b. Spacer material 420 is, however, formed on the substantially vertical shaped (not shown) raised source/drain (S/D) regions 408 a, 410 a along border 416 of device 404 a. Likewise, spacer material 422 is also formed on the substantially vertical shaped raised source/drain (S/D) regions 408 b, 410 b along border 418 of device 404 b.

FIG. 5 shows a block diagram of an exemplary design flow 900 used for example, in semiconductor IC logic design, simulation, test, layout, and manufacture. Design flow 900 includes processes and mechanisms for processing design structures or devices to generate logically or otherwise functionally equivalent representations of the design structures and/or devices described above and shown in FIGS. 3E & 4A. The design structure processed and/or generated by design flow 900 may be encoded on machine-readable transmission or storage media to include data and/or instructions that when executed or otherwise processed on a data processing system generate a logically, structurally, mechanically, or otherwise functionally equivalent representation of hardware components, circuits, devices, or systems.

Design flow 900 may vary depending on the type of representation being designed. For example, a design flow 900 for building an application specific IC (ASIC) may differ from a design flow 900 for designing a standard component or from a design flow 900 for instantiating the design into a programmable array, for example a programmable gate array (PGA) or a field programmable gate array (FPGA) offered by Altera® Inc. or Xilinx® Inc.

FIG. 5 illustrates multiple such design structures including an input design structure 920 that is preferably processed by a design process 910. In one embodiment, the design structure 920 comprises design data used in a design process and comprising information describing one or more embodiments of the invention with respect to the structures as shown in FIGS. 3E & 4A. The design data in the form of schematics or HDL, a hardware-description language (e.g., Verilog, VHDL, C, etc.) may be embodied on one or more machine readable media. For example, design structure 920 may be a text file, numerical data or a graphical representation of the one or more embodiments of the invention, as shown in FIGS. 3E & 4A. Design structure 920 may be a logical simulation design structure generated and processed by design process 910 to produce a logically equivalent functional representation of a hardware device. Design structure 920 may also or alternatively comprise data and/or program instructions that when processed by design process 910, generate a functional representation of the physical structure of a hardware device. Whether representing functional and/or structural design features, design structure 920 may be generated using electronic computer-aided design (ECAD) such as implemented by a core developer/designer. When encoded on a machine-readable data transmission, gate array, or storage medium, design structure 920 may be accessed and processed by one or more hardware and/or software modules within design process 910 to simulate or otherwise functionally represent an electronic component, circuit, electronic or logic module, apparatus, device, or system such as those shown in FIGS. 3E & 4A. As such, design structure 920 may comprise files or other data structures including human and/or machine-readable source code, compiled structures, and computer-executable code structures that when processed by a design or simulation data processing system, functionally simulate or otherwise represent circuits or other levels of hardware logic design. Such data structures may include hardware-description language (HDL) design entities or other data structures conforming to and/or compatible with lower-level HDL design languages such as Verilog and VHDL, and/or higher level design languages such as C or C++.

Design process 910 preferably employs and incorporates hardware and/or software modules for synthesizing, translating, or otherwise processing a design/simulation functional equivalent of the components, circuits, devices, or logic structures shown in FIGS. 3E & 4A to generate a netlist 980 which may contain a design structure such as design structure 920. Netlist 980 may comprise, for example, compiled or otherwise processed data structures representing a list of wires, discrete components, logic gates, control circuits, I/O devices, models, etc. that describes the connections to other elements and circuits in an integrated circuit design. Netlist 980 may be synthesized using an iterative process in which netlist 980 is resynthesized one or more times depending on design specifications and parameters for the device. As with other design structure types described herein, netlist 980 may be recorded on a machine-readable data storage medium or programmed into a programmable gate array. The medium may be a non-volatile storage medium such as a magnetic or optical disk drive, a programmable gate array, a compact flash, or other flash memory. Additionally, or in the alternative, the medium may be a system or cache memory, buffer space, or electrically or optically conductive devices and materials on which data packets may be transmitted and intermediately stored via the Internet, or other networking suitable means.

Design process 910 may include hardware and software modules for processing a variety of input data structure types including netlist 980. Such data structure types may reside, for example, within library elements 930 and include a set of commonly used elements, circuits, and devices, including models, layouts, and symbolic representations, for a given manufacturing technology (e.g., different technology nodes, 32 nm, 45 nm, 90 nm, etc.). The data structure types may further include design specifications 940, characterization data 950, verification data 960, design rules 970, and test data files 985 which may include input test patterns, output test results, and other testing information. Design process 910 may further include, for example, standard mechanical design processes such as stress analysis, thermal analysis, mechanical event simulation, process simulation for operations such as casting, molding, and die press forming, etc. One of ordinary skill in the art of mechanical design can appreciate the extent of possible mechanical design tools and applications used in design process 910 without deviating from the scope and spirit of the invention. Design process 910 may also include modules for performing standard circuit design processes such as timing analysis, verification, design rule checking, place and route operations, etc.

Design process 910 employs and incorporates logic and physical design tools such as HDL compilers and simulation model build tools to process design structure 920 together with some or all of the depicted supporting data structures along with any additional mechanical design or data (if applicable), to generate a second design structure 990 comprising second design data embodied on a storage medium in a data format used for the exchange of layout data of integrated circuits and/or symbolic data format (e.g. information stored in a GDSII (GDS2), GL1, OASIS, map files, or any other suitable format for storing such design structures). In one embodiment, the second design data resides on a storage medium or programmable gate array in a data format used for the exchange of data of mechanical devices and structures (e.g. information stored in a IGES, DXF, Parasolid XT, JT, DRG, or any other suitable format for storing or rendering such mechanical design structures). Similar to design structure 920, design structure 990 preferably comprises one or more files, data structures, or other computer-encoded data or instructions that reside on transmission or data storage media and that when processed by an ECAD system generate a logically or otherwise functionally equivalent form of one or more of the embodiments of the invention shown in FIGS. 3E & 4A. In one embodiment, design structure 990 may comprise a compiled, executable HDL simulation model that functionally simulates the devices shown in FIGS. 3E & 4A.

Design structure 990 may also employ a data format used for the exchange of layout data of integrated circuits and/or symbolic data format (e.g. information stored in a GDSII (GDS2), GL1, OASIS, map files, or any other suitable format for storing such design data structures).

Design structure 990 may comprise information such as, for example, symbolic data, map files, test data files, design content files, manufacturing data, layout parameters, wires, levels of metal, vias, shapes, data for routing through the manufacturing line, and any other data required by a manufacturer or other designer/developer to produce devices or structures as described above and shown in FIGS. 3E & 4A. Design structure 990 may then proceed to a stage 995 where, for example, design structure 990: proceeds to tape-out, is released to manufacturing, is released to a mask house, is sent to another design house, is sent back to the customer, etc.

The descriptions of the various embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration, but are not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the embodiments disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the described embodiments. The terminology used herein was chosen to best explain the principles of the embodiment, the practical application or technical improvement over technologies found in the marketplace, or to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the embodiments disclosed herein. 

1-14. (canceled)
 15. A semiconductor structure comprising: an active layer located on a substrate; a first and a second gate structure located on the active layer; a first raised epitaxial region located on an exposed region of the active layer between the first and the second gate structure, the first raised epitaxial region having a first facet shaped edge and first vertical shape edge, wherein the first facet shaped edge is located adjacent the first gate structure; a second raised epitaxial region located on the exposed region of the active layer between the first and the second gate structure, the second raised epitaxial region having a second facet shaped edge and a second vertical shape edge, wherein the second facet shaped edge is located adjacent the second gate structures; a trench region located between the first and the second vertical shaped edge, the trench region electrically isolating the first and the second raised epitaxial region, the trench region separating the first and the second raised epitaxial region prior to a silicide formation process that forms both a first silicide area over the first raised epitaxial region and a second silicide area over the second raised epitaxial region, the first silicide area extending between the first facet shaped edge adjacent the first gate structure and the first vertical shape edge adjacent the trench region, the second silicide area extending between the second facet shaped edge adjacent the second gate structure and the second vertical shape edge adjacent the trench region, wherein the first and the second vertical shape edges create respective extended surface areas for the silicide formation process relative to forming the first and the second raised epitaxial region following the formation of the trench region; and forming second spacers within the trench, wherein verticals sides of the second spacers contact a sidewall of the first and second silicide areas.
 16. The semiconductor structure of claim 15, wherein the first raised epitaxial region corresponds to a first transistor device and the second raised epitaxial region corresponds to a second transistor device.
 17. The semiconductor structure of claim 15, wherein the active layer comprises an extremely thin silicon-on-insulator layer.
 18. The semiconductor structure of claim 15, further comprising: first spacers located on opposing sidewalls of both the first and the second gate structure; and second spacers located on the first spacers, the first facet shaped edge, and the second facet shaped edge, wherein the second spacers located on the first and the second facet shaped edge protect the first and the second facet shaped edge during silicide formation on the first and the second raised epitaxial region.
 19. The semiconductor structure of claim 18, wherein, within the trench region, the trench region comprises the third spacers located on the first and the second vertical shape edge.
 20. A design structure tangibly embodied in a machine readable medium for designing, manufacturing, or testing an integrated circuit, the design structure comprising: an active layer located on a substrate; a first and a second gate structure located on the active layer; a first raised epitaxial region located on an exposed region of the active layer between a first and a second gate structure, the first raised epitaxial region having a first facet shaped edge and first vertical shape edge, wherein the first facet shaped edge is located adjacent the first gate structure; a second raised epitaxial region located on the exposed region of the active layer between the first and the second gate structure, the second raised epitaxial region having a second facet shaped edge and a second vertical shape edge, wherein the second facet shaped edge is located adjacent the second gate structures; a trench region located between the first and the second vertical shaped edge, the trench region electrically isolating the first and the second raised epitaxial region, the trench region separating the first and the second raised epitaxial region prior to a silicide formation process that forms both a first silicide area over the first raised epitaxial region and a second silicide area over the second raised epitaxial region, the first silicide area extending between the first facet shaped edge adjacent the first gate structure and the first vertical shape edge adjacent the trench region, the second silicide area extending between the second facet shaped edge adjacent the second gate structure and the second vertical shape edge adjacent the trench region, wherein the first and the second vertical shape edges create respective extended surface areas for the silicide formation process relative to forming the first and the second raised epitaxial region following the formation of the trench region; and forming second spacers within the trench, wherein verticals sides of the second spacers contact a sidewall of the first and second silicide areas.
 21. The design structure of claim 20, wherein the first raised epitaxial region corresponds to a first transistor device and the second raised epitaxial region corresponds to a second transistor device.
 22. The design structure of claim 20, wherein the active layer comprises an extremely thin silicon-on-insulator layer.
 23. The design structure of claim 20, further comprising: first spacers located on opposing sidewalls of both the first and the second gate structure; and second spacers located on the first spacers, the first facet shaped edge, and the second facet shaped edge, wherein the second spacers located on the first and the second facet shaped edge protect the first and the second facet shaped edge during silicide formation on the first and the second raised epitaxial region. 